Kerala High Court Directs Suchithwa Mission To Frame Sustainable Sanitation Plan For Chottanikkara Temple

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday (17 December) directed the Suchithwa Mission, the State's nodal agency for sanitation and waste management, to play a proactive role in restoring and maintaining cleanliness at the Chottanikkara Bhagavathi Temple, following serious concerns over environmental and public health issues in and around the temple premisesA Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar was hearing suo motu proceedings where the Court had earlier flagged the unhygienic condition in the temple premises. The Court had earlier ordered the Suchitwa Mission to conduct a Cleanliness Audit in the temple premises. The Standing Counsel for the Devaswom Board, submitted that officers of the Suchithwa Mission had already conducted an inspection of the temple premises pursuant to earlier directions. A detailed report of the inspection is scheduled to be filed before the court on January 21, 2026The bench thus recalled that it had earlier found the surroundings of the temple to be in a “deplorable condition,” with plastic waste, food remnants and garbage scattered indiscriminately. The court also noted leakage of filthy water into a nearby pond used for ritualistic purposes, along with dysfunctional drains and pipelines, observing that the measures taken by temple authorities were wholly inadequate and posed serious environmental and sanitation concerns at a place of major religious significanceIt thus directed the Mission to assess existing waste generation and disposal practices, design a scientific waste segregation system, recommend sustainable processing and disposal mechanisms, advise on adequate placement of bins and signage for pilgrims, and examine the sufficiency and placement of sewage disposal facilities and incinerators. The Mission was also asked to suggest institutional mechanisms to ensure continuous and permanent maintenance of hygiene, rather than ad hoc or seasonal measuresThe Court emphasised that the objective should go beyond “cosmetic cleanliness.”“The objective shall be not merely cosmetic cleanliness, but the establishment of a robust, sustainable, and permanently enforceable sanitation framework, befitting the stature of a major temple that attracts large numbers of devotees on a daily basis.” Court addedThe matter has been posted for further consideration on January 21, 2026, after submission of the Suchithwa Mission's report which address the corrective, preventive and long term measures. Case Title: Suo Motu v State of Kerala and OrsCase No: DBP 52/ 2025Counsel for Respondent: S Rajmohan (Sr. GP), K P Sudheer (SC - CDB), T Madhu, C R Saradamani, B S Suraj Krishna, Avanthika R, Karthik Krishna M, Arunima A R, T S Davis, Vineeth KomalachandranClick Here To Read/ Download Interim Order

Kerala High Court Directs Suchithwa Mission To Frame Sustainable Sanitation Plan For Chottanikkara Temple

Anamika MJ

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